Today is the Day for New Dreams

As I was thumbing through my AARP, The Magazine, the periodical dedicated to those of us who are more than 50, I stumbled across a sidebar article by Chris Gardner, the subject of the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness (2010, September/October, p72).  The article, entitled, "Starting from Scratch at 51," was Gardner's answer to a fellow who felt his identity was put in question because he changed careers after 50.  Gardner reminded the reader that Ray Krok started McDonald's restaurants when he was older than that.  He went on to quote Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, "You don't have to see the whole staircase.  Just take the first step."

This article synthesized thoughts I'd been having recently about conversations people in Sacramento and Woodland have addressed to me about singing.  These folks, some in their 50s and 60s, were contemplating taking singing lessons with me.  They were reluctant to begin because they feel that they should have started earlier in their lives.  I tried to explain to them that it's never too late to learn.  In fact, my tag line for my company, Sacramento Vocal Music, is "Sacramento Vocal Music... Where Everybody Sings!"

The question is, when is it too late to dream?  I suggested that the correct answer is, "Never!"  One of the qualities that carry us to this point in our lives is our ability to creatively keep ourselves engaged.  During our work history, we've had to problem-solve, find our work enjoyable, learn new things, and insist on diversity.  If we hadn't done so, our brains would be mush from the sheer boredom of our existence.  Even if we work in a job that is repetitive and not as fulfilling as we'd like, we have hobbies and activities that allow for our thought processes and emotional experiences to take flight.

"Fear and creativity cannot coexist!"  This is something I've taught every class that has ever been in front of me.  If we are afraid to try something new, putting our heart and soul into the experience, we will always wonderful, "What if..?"  We will always stand behind those who are in the forefront of the experience, watching, perhaps waiting our turn, and possibly never getting the chance to see if we can succeed.  The most difficult part of this scenario is that this way of life can become a pattern for us as we do our jobs, come home and watch television, seeing others do what we've only dreamed of doing. 

For those of us over 50, we must think to ourselves, "It's too early for my rocking chair and shawl."  The truth is, it must always be too early for those symbols of old age. 

My great-uncle Gene is 103 years old.  His skin is nearly as smooth as mine.  He still speaks with a surprising animation in his voice although his eyesight and hearing are deteriorating.  Uncle Gene was the oldest living member of the San Francisco Musician's Union to still be playing when he was in his 90s.  Although he didn't play much at that time, he kept his chops up with his trusty tenor saxophone.  He'd been playing the sax since the late-1910s, giving concerts to his chums sitting on old tires behind his house after school.  Music is his passion.  On top of everything else, this amazing man still golfs. 

When Uncle Gene talks about playing gigs at the Fairmont and other San Francisco landmarks with Count Basie, Jerry Lester, and Billie Holliday, in the presence of boxing great, Max Baer (see photo at left: (L-R) Gene Herrera, Max Baer, two unidentified men), and others, his eyes sparkle with the memories.  Even after the jazz and swing eras ended and gigs dried up for him, and he had to go to work in another field, he continued to play when he could.  He never regretted having the history he did. 

As I reflected on Uncle Gene's stories, I realized he has stories to tell because he chose to live with a capital "L" for his entire life.  I laughed when two things became clear: 1.  At 51, I am about half Uncle Gene's age; and 2. I have the genes to live as long as he has.  Perhaps it is those genes that inspired me to return to college to finish my degree in Communications at 50.

There are thousands of examples of people living their dreams, started both before and after 50.  These are life choices we face throughout our time on this planet.  Why do we wait for singing lessons, or golf lessons, or to pick up a paint brush or dance shoes, or even change careers to do what we feel passionate about?  Why do we deny ourselves the joy of these experiences?  What tapes are playing in our heads that prevent us from hurtling headlong toward a new horizon?  Whatever they are, they must be pushed out of the way so that when we are 103, which is increasingly more likely with the developments of modern medicine, we, too, can say, "I've had my version of joy!" 
____________________________

References:

Gardner, Chris. (2010). "Starting from scratch at 51." AARP, The Magazine. Nancy Perry Graham, Editor and President, American Association of Retired Persons, Washington, D.C. September/October. p. 74.

Glica-Hernandez, James (2008) [Uncle Gene and Me]. Private collection. Digital Photograph.

Herrera, Eugene (1947) [Eugene Herrera, Max Baer, and Others] Private collection. Photograph.
 
Sacramento Vocal Music. (2010). SacramentoVocalMusic.com. Retrieved from http://SacramentoVocalMusic.com/

Tim Thumb (2010) [Divergent Roads] Careerjockey.org. Graphic. Retrieved from: http://www.careerjockey.org/wp-content/themes/arthemia/scripts/timthumb.php